Pocket screw driver and the like



G. R. BEEG POCKET SCREW DRIVER AND THE LIKE April 9, 1940.

Filed May 12, 19s! a 5 4 a a W M m n. z W H MTIHI r lrynll l l d l l P ii fi lllllllll ll hllllllnknnu. y

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q R. Y. mwfi m 0 m M I A w 0 1 0% B Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention is concerned with screw drivers and the like tools, and relates more particularly to an improved screw driver or the like in which the working head or heads can be enclosed when not in use so that the tool can be carried readily in the vest or coat pockets of the user.

It is a general object of my invention to provid an improved screw driver or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pocket screw driver in which the working head is covered when not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved pocket screw driver which is of a simple and inexpensive construction so as to enable easy and economical manufacture thereof.

Other objects will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of a screw driver constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the rod or shaft having the ends thereof formed as screw driver heads.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of another screw driver shaft for a smaller size tool.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section showing the spring latch for the cap, the view being taken in the plane of the line 55 in Fig. 1.

The screw driver of my invention is in the form of a pocket tool having the working head or heads thereof covered with a cap or caps when not in use. I have chosen to illustrate my invention as embodied in a double-ended screw driver.

Generally, the tool comprises a longitudinal rod or shaft l0 and a handle or grip portion ll secured thereon intermediate the ends of the shaft, which are formed to provide screw driver heads I 2 and I3 of different size, for which respective caps l4 and I5 are provided.

The handle or grip portion I I is rigidly secured on central part iii of the shaft and is co-extensive therewith to provide shoulders at its ends against which the respective caps are positioned. The handle may be formed of hard rubber, Bakelite, metal, or other suitable material, which may be pressed, molded, cemented or shrunk on to the shaft. Central part iii of the rod may be of greater diameter than the end portions thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2, or of the same size as shown in Fig. 3, and is formed with means to insure a rigid connection between the shaft and the handle. For this purpose the central part l6 of the shaft may be grooved, knurled or flared to provide radially overlapping portions of the shaft and the handle. Preferably, the interlocking connecting means is formed as a spiral groove H in the shaft which receives a projecting ridge of the handle. This type of connection effectively prevents both relative endwise and rotative movement between the shaft and the handle so that they form a rigid unit.

--The caps 14 and I5 may be formed of material similar to the grip portion of the tool and preferably have their recesses of a size to fit snugly over the associated shaft end, while their outer surfaces preferably form a smooth continuation of the outer surface of the handle. Similar means are provided for latching the caps resiliently in position on the tool. For this purpose, each cap is provided at its open end with an an- 7 nular projection 2| which may be provided as a ring bonded to the open end of the cap so as to provide a smooth outer surface and having its central aperture larger than the recess in the cap. Each ring 2| carries a spring wire or rod 22 extending transversely of the aperture with its ends fitting snugly and supported in aligned bored holes in the wall of the ring. As seen in Fig. 5, one of the aligned holes does not extend entirely through the Wall so as to locatethe wire positively. Latching wire 22 is so located radially with respect to the recess of its cap that it frictionally engages and is slightly bent by the associated screw driver shaft when the cap is placed thereover. As the end of the cap engages with the end of the handle, the wire 22 snaps into an annular latching groove 23 of arcuate cross section formed in the rod immediately adjacent the handle, thereby latching the cap resiliently in place, and providing a swivelled connection for the cap on the tool. The relation of the parts is preferably such that the latching wire, when engaged with the groove, also tends to hold the cap and the handle together.

From the above description, it is seen that I have provided a pocket screw driver of simple and inexpensive construction, in' which the screw driver head or heads may be covered when not in use. Such a tool can be carried in the pocket of a coat or vest without danger of injury thereto, while presenting a pleasing appearance and being readily accessible for use when required.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the tool is capable of modification or variation ing a recess of a size to fit snugly over the associated shaft end with the end of the cap engaged with the adjacent shoulder of said handle, each cap having an enlarged recess at the open end thereof, and a resilient latching wire in each cap extending transversely through the enlarged recess thereof for free flexing movement and for engagement with one of said latching grooves with the cap abutting the adjacent shoulder of said handle.

GEORGE R. BEEG. 

